The Body

As is so often with Hindi movies,the insertion of unnecessary songs not only broke the rhythm and suspense it diluted the quality of this very good movie viz."The Body". At 1.45hrs the length was perfect so no complaints on that front,but the songs were a major hindrance. Like "Badla" this film was inspired by a Spanish movie,but the difference here is that "Badla" maintained the tension/suspense/drams from the first scene right to the last scene and ended up in my opinion being much much better than the original itself. But alas ,foolishly the 2-3 songs ruined that suspense to a great extent ,otherwise it would have been much better than it what it finally turned out to be. Rishi and Emraan were very good in the picture and Emraan's very very pretty girlfriend Ritu was competent.The rest of the cast was below average especially the girl who played Emraan's wife Maya. 7/10

The Body (2019), directed by Jeethu Joseph, is a Hindi remake of his own Spanish-language film of the same name (El Cuerpo, 2012). With a promising cast featuring Emraan Hashmi, Rishi Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Vedhika Kumar, the film sets out to be a gripping murder mystery. While it offers some suspenseful moments and an engaging premise, it ultimately suffers from uneven pacing, weak character development, and predictable twists.

The story begins in a morgue where the corpse of a powerful businesswoman, Maya Verma (Sobhita Dhulipala), mysteriously disappears. Inspector Jairaj Rawal (Rishi Kapoor), a brooding officer dealing with personal loss, is assigned to the case. Suspicion quickly falls on Maya's husband, Ajay Puri (Emraan Hashmi), a man with secrets of his own. As the investigation unfolds over one rainy night, layers of betrayal, love affairs, and dark motives are revealed.

The plot has all the elements of a classic thriller: a missing body, a haunted investigator, a cheating spouse, and a mysterious backstory. The confined setting of the morgue adds a claustrophobic atmosphere, which could have been used to great effect. Unfortunately, the film struggles to build consistent tension. While the screenplay tries to keep viewers guessing, most of the twists are either too obvious or too rushed.

Emraan Hashmi, known for his work in romantic thrillers, delivers a decent performance. He plays the role of the conflicted husband with sincerity, although his character lacks emotional depth. His expressions often feel one-note, especially during key confrontational scenes. Sobhita Dhulipala is striking as the cold and controlling Maya, but her screen time is limited to flashbacks. Even then, she makes an impression as the sharp, ambitious woman whose past drives the mystery. Vedhika Kumar, as Ajay's lover, plays her part well, though her role is underwritten.

The highlight of the film is Rishi Kapoor, who gives one of his last complete performances before his passing in 2020. As the cynical inspector battling his own demons, Kapoor brings gravitas and a sharp edge to the film. His presence keeps the narrative grounded even when the story becomes melodramatic or implausible.

Jeethu Joseph, the mind behind Drishyam, is no stranger to thrillers. However, in The Body, his direction feels restrained and less impactful. The film relies heavily on slow motion, dramatic music, and dim lighting to create mood, but the suspense doesn't always land. The final twist, which aims to shock the viewer, feels unearned and somewhat forced. While it ties the plot together, it lacks the emotional resonance required to leave a lasting impact.

The music by Shamir Tandon and Arko is average, with a couple of songs feeling unnecessary and interrupting the film's flow. The background score, however, does help heighten the suspense in key scenes. Cinematography is slick, with glossy visuals and moody lighting capturing the eerie atmosphere of the morgue and Maya's luxurious world.

Despite its flaws, The Body has moments of intrigue. The film's core idea is strong-raising questions about guilt, justice, and revenge-but its execution falters due to clichéd dialogues and underwhelming storytelling. Had it been tighter, darker, and more psychologically driven, it might have stood out among Indian thrillers.

Generous with 10 cos I am tired of the same ethnocentric Bollywood films. Tired of the Bollywood films distorting history. After having already seen the original in 2018 n having posted a review of it, three things really pulled me into seeing this official remake : Hashmi, Joseph n Shobhita. Fellas who haven't seen the original will enjoy the twist. Oh! by the way the 4th gud point is the acting of Rishi Kapoor.

Poor remake of the original movie, too slow. Don't waste your time watching this one. Nothing in the movie deserves to be appreciated. I think the director was in a hurry to wind up. A soulless movie

Story is good but poor execution, bad choice of actors, poor dialogues.